Hamilton
Property Type: Existing Single-Family Detached Home
Scope of Work: Full Interior Conversion to Legal Triplex – One Unit per Floor (Basement, Ground, Second Floor)
Project Overview
Located in Hamilton, this project involved converting a standard single-family home into a legal 3-unit dwelling, with one spacious 1-bedroom unit on each level—basement, ground, and second floor—each approximately 700 sq. ft. in size.
This classic triplex configuration offers efficient use of vertical space and maximizes rental potential. The building layout allowed for dedicated exits for each unit, but as with many multi-unit conversions, ensuring proper egress protection became the primary design and code compliance challenge.
Scope & Strategy
- Designed and converted a single-family home into a legal triplex, each unit having: private kitchen, bathroom, and living space; legal bedroom with egress-compliant windows; individual HVAC and laundry service (if applicable)
- Used each full floor of the home for a dedicated residential unit
- Leveraged existing structure to minimize costly additions or structural changes
- Retained and upgraded existing exit doors and paths to meet OBC fire and egress requirements
Challenges Solved
- Protected path of travel for rear exits by applying fire-rated construction along 50% of the affected exterior walls on the ground floor
- Removed existing drywall and installed new 5/8” Type X gypsum board to achieve required fire-resistance ratings
- Proposed and installed fire shutters on select windows to maintain compliance while preserving natural light
- Addressed building inspector’s safety concerns while keeping the design efficient and cost-conscious
Investor Benefits
- Added two additional legal units, dramatically increasing rental income and overall property value
- Created 3 large, tenant-friendly 1-bedroom units in a high-demand area
- Although additional fire-rating measures were required, the long-term value and legal status of the property ensures strong ROI
- Hamilton remains a key city for multi-unit conversion projects—supported by clear permitting paths and flexible zoning in many areas
Current Status
Permits approved and construction completed. This project is now a fully legalized triplex, compliant with OBC and fire separation requirements—ready to generate reliable rental income for years to come.
Triplex, Fire Separation, Vertical Split, Retrofit
